CNG 109, Lot: 12. Estimate $500. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 510-470 BC. AR Nomos (23mm, 7.95 g, 12h). Ear of barley with seven grains / Incuse ear of barley with six inner and five outer grains. Noe Class IX, 187; HN Italy 1482. VF, toned, die break on obverse.

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 284 (8 August 2012), lot 18.

From the consignor: This die pair is fascinating. The obverse die has a serious cud developing and surely must be at the end of its life. It is a barley ear design with seven pellets. Here it is clearly mismatched with a reverse die with fewer pellets. One must assume the reverse of the original pair failed and the celator was trying to get extended life out of the obverse die by matching it to an available reverse die. This is a most unusual pairing for this series and quite rare as such.